Numbered containers
Every tote, bin, box, or shelf gets a simple visible number — small enough to write, large enough to read from across a room.
How It Works
Make storage searchable in a few simple steps.
Give a tote a number, snap one photo, and let Totely do the item entry. Save the location, then search the way you actually think.
Start with up to 10 totes free forever.
The idea
Your storage gets a memory.
Most storage systems rely on memory, vague labels, or someone in the house knowing where things went. Totely gives each container a simple record with a number, photo, contents, and location — so anyone can search later.
Photo proof
A photo taken before the lid goes on becomes your record of what is inside, even months later.
Searchable contents
Type what you remember. Totely understands meaning and context — then shows the tote number, location, and photo proof.
The steps
How Totely works
Six steps from an unlabeled tote to a searchable storage record.
01
Number the container
Add a simple visible number to the tote, bin, box, shelf, or storage zone. Keep it large enough to spot from a few steps away.
02
Create the container in Totely
Open Totely and create a new container with the matching number — for example, Tote 4, Bin 8, or Box 12.
03
Take a photo
Photograph what is inside before you close the container. This gives you visual proof later, so you are not guessing.
04
AI creates the list
Totely spots the visible items and builds the first list from your photo. Give it a quick check, edit if needed, and save — you stay in control.
05
Save the location
Add where the container lives: garage shelf, closet, attic, storage unit, under bed, moving zone, or small business shelf.
06
Search and find
Search the way you think—"green truck," "camping light," or "winter gear." Totely understands meaning and context, then shows the container number, location, and photo proof.
Want to see the workflow? View the demo →
Want the full breakdown? See all Totely features →
Search result
From "Where is it?" to "Tote 7, garage shelf."
This is what finding something in Totely looks like — one search, one answer.
camping tent
Result found
Tote 7
Location
Garage Shelf B
Contents include
Camping tent, stakes, tarp
Photo proof
Saved on pack day
Getting started
You do not need to catalog everything at once.
The easiest way to start is with one high-frustration container. Pick the tote, bin, or box you open most often, make it searchable, and build from there.
- Pick one container.
- Add a simple number.
- Take a photo of the contents.
- Save the storage location.
- Search for one item to test it.
- Repeat when ready.
Want the simplest start? Try the One-Tote Test →
When things change
What if the contents change?
Storage changes — and that is exactly why Totely is useful. The number on the outside can stay the same while the digital record gets updated.
Add new items
Drop new items into the container and update the record in the app.
Update the photo
Take a fresh photo of the new contents so the visual record stays accurate.
Move the container
Change the saved location when the container moves to a new shelf or storage zone.
Want to understand the labeling side? Read about storage tote labels →
Where it helps
Use the same flow anywhere you store things.
The six-step workflow is the same whether you are organizing a garage, packing moving boxes, or storing holiday decor.
Why it's easier
Why this is easier than a spreadsheet or long label.
Search by meaning, not memory
Describe what you need in normal words. Totely understands context from your saved photos and lists—not just exact keyword matches.
See photo proof
A photo of the actual contents is more accurate than a label someone wrote once and never updated.
Save the real storage location
Know exactly which shelf, zone, or room a container is in — not just a room name.
Update when contents change
Swap items in and out without relabeling the outside of the container.
Other people can find things
Anyone with access can search and find what they need without asking the one person who remembers everything.
Keep building
Keep building your storage system.
Storage organization system
The full Totely method for building a lasting storage system.
Home inventory app
What Totely does as a digital home inventory tool.
Storage tote labels
Why simple numbers are better than overloaded category labels.
Browse use cases
See how the same workflow helps with garages, moving, holidays, and more.
Explore guides
Step-by-step help for setting up each storage zone.
Read FAQs
Answers about getting started, AI cataloging, family sharing, and pricing.
FAQ
Common questions about getting started
Do I need to organize everything before using Totely?
No. Totely works best when you start small. Add one tote, bin, box, or shelf, take a photo, save the location, and build your system gradually.
Do I need special labels?
No. You can start with simple visible numbers. Totely connects the number to the contents, photos, and location inside your inventory.
How does Totely know what is inside a tote?
You snap a photo of the contents, and Totely's AI identifies visible items and creates the item list for you. Review the list, make quick edits if needed, and save the record so it stays searchable.
Can I update a container later?
Yes. If the contents change, update the item record, take a new photo, or move the container to a new location.
Can I use this for moving boxes?
Yes. Number each moving box, photograph what is inside, assign it to a room or zone, and search later when you need something before everything is unpacked.
What should I start with?
Start with the storage area that causes the most searching — such as holiday decorations, tools, kids' clothes, craft supplies, camping gear, documents, or moving boxes.
Start with one tote.
Give one tote a number, snap one photo, and let Totely do the item entry. Run one real search — that is the whole system in miniature.
Up to 10 totes free forever.